Ordinance 2545: Tool (Noise Allowed) Time, Take 2

Published: September 6, 2018 @ 6:00 AM EST

A reworking of Ordinance 2535 is up for a public hearing and vote at Thursday night’s September 6th municipal meeting.

The proposed law will further clarify when power tools – a list which includes power saws, drills, sanders, grinders, tools, and ‘similar devices’ – can be used in residential neighborhoods.

Ordinance 2545 will explicitly permit the use of such tools on weekdays – Monday through Friday – between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The previously defeated ordinance – 2535 – had the hours from 7 a.m. till dusk.

On weekends – Saturday and Sunday – as well as holidays will permit the use of tools outdoors between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. which changed the ending time from dusk which was in Ordinance 2535.

The reason for the hourly end time was due to the different moments of dusk throughout the year and the possible ambiguous definition of dusk.

Additionally, the section which allows the use of such tools at any time of day in cases of emergency and/or in the interest of the public health was put back into the bill. It had been removed in Ordinance 2535.

The public hearing and council vote are scheduled to be held during the 7 p.m. September 6th Mayor & Council meeting at borough hall located at 110 East Westfield Avenue.